BANGI, MALAYSIA - The Universities and University Colleges (Amendment) Bill 2008 may have just been passed, but undergraduates were yesterday reminded to stay away from next month's Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Idris Haron said although the law now gave undergraduates greater freedom of speech and association, they were still not allowed to help in the campaigning.

Idris said he had been directed by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin to keep an eye on the situation.

The by-election on Jan 17 has been called following the death of Datuk Razali Ismail on Nov 28.

"Our officers will be watching the by-election closely. Unless they are voters, my advice is for them (undergraduates) not to involve themselves in the campaigning," he said after closing the Asean University Games seminar here.

The seminar was held in conjunction with the 14th Asean University Games held here from Dec 11 to 22.

The amendments to the Universities and University Colleges Act were passed by the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday.

Idris said undergraduates must be bear in mind that the amended act, while permitting them to carry out activities with political parties and non-governmental organisations, was not an invitation for them to join any political parties.

"That ban remains. We are reminding all undergraduates that they will face action if they are found to be (party) members."

The amended act would, among other things, allow students to invite representatives of political parties and non-governmental organisations to campus to participate or speak about activities relating to their programmes.

The provisions, however, would not apply to the International Islamic University Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Mara and private institutions of higher learning.